NEXT STEP 2030
Claremore First Methodist Church has been serving God and the people of Rogers County, Oklahoma for 151 years (since 1874). We began as a mission long ago, and we continue to serve as a mission outpost within our community. The church has been faithful across the years to discern where God was leading for the future. The church facility grew from a tiny frame building to a wonderful 28-acre central campus which the church developed beginning in 1991. Since 2000, the church has experienced 300% growth, added seven new worship communities and celebrated the addition of over a thousand new believers. Community outreach has expanded in the form of active recovery ministries, a million-dollar school supply drive for Rogers County, maintaining seven apartments for the homeless, and a compassion ministry which feeds 1,400 neighbors a month. When the infrastructure of the central facility became stretched and crowded, the church leased and remodeled a retail facility into a beautiful 10,000 sq/ft south campus which is called, Vessel Church. As a Global Methodist congregation, the church is growing once again. Today we celebrate the opportunity to take the next step in our adventure with Jesus Christ!
Frequently asked Questions
What is the order of priority on the various projects?
Discussions to date have prioritized the remodel of existing facilities, and the building of the new Christian Neighbor facility. However, we hope to include debt reduction and the purchase of Vessel campus if funds are available. Ultimately this decision will come from CFMC’s Administrative Council and we will communicate updates to the congregation as we know more.
What happens if we don't raise enough money?
If we don’t raise the necessary funds we will have two options: complete only as much as we’re able with the funds we have in the bank, or borrow the balance to complete the entire project. If the Administrative Council were to recommend borrowing money to complete the project, the amount will be much less than if we needed to borrow the entire amount. However, the goal is certainly to raise all we need so that we don’t have to borrow any money.
What happens if we raise more than our goal?
Our Next Step 2030 Committee will propose new possibilities to the Administrative Council for the church to consider as we take the next step in our adventure with Jesus Christ!
When will the work begin?
The Finance Committee will coordinate with the Trustees, architect, and Next Step team to determine when funds may be released to begin each phase of the project.
Will we complete projects only as funds become available or will we take on short term financing, if we have pledges to back it up?
The Finance Committee and Trustees will communicate and propose to the Administrative Council any plan for a short-term loan. While the goal is to complete all of this debt free, it is likely we will take on very short-term financing in order to complete the work sooner.
What is the cost of doing nothing?
Rogers County is growing and our church is growing. Our church is in a great position to plan for the future! If we do nothing, we lose an important opportunity to keep our church moving forward in mission and ministry. Lost people matter to God. Hungry people matter to God. Let’s take our next step!
How much room for growth is available at the current Vessel campus? Is there space to expand if we need to?
The Vessel campus worship space can accommodate future growth of approximately 40%.
If we are able to purchase the Vessel property debt free, how would we re-deploy the $120,000 per year that we would be saving from not having rental costs?
These costs could be reinvested in ministry. For example, the Vessel will be in a good place to help the church plant another new campus locally, and our ministries among the orphans of Uganda will benefit as well.
What are the terms on our current debt?
We currently owe $565,000 on the disaffiliation loan. We are paying 7% interest and are beginning the third year on a fifteen-year note
How big will the Christian Neighbor Center be and will it be constructed in such a way that we can easily expand should need arise?
While no final decisions have been made, the initial proposal from our architect includes a one-story building that covers approximately 12,000 sq. ft. Some rooms within the facility can be adapted as needed. Discussions concerning the possibility of expansion are on-going
How will a capital campaign impact giving to the annual operating budget?
A capital campaign is giving above and beyond our current tithes to the operating budget. While we would not expect increases to the operating budget for the next three years, if our new facility improvements create excitement and help the church to grow, we believe that over time the giving to the operating budget will also grow.
When should we begin giving to the campaign?
We are excited to share that we have already received $359,802 from generous members who are excited to see this work begin. If the Lord stirs you to give now, we would never want to stifle that. But we want the entire church to undergo an intentional prayerful process before each household makes its commitment. At this time, we plan to begin asking for some early commitments from some of our largest givers in the early Fall. This will give us momentum for the public phase of our campaign in October/November. We will be asking the entire church to make their commitments in November and begin paying on those commitments around that time or at the first of the year.
